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Associate Computer Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA (NOW HIRING)

STR

Associate Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$93K - $115K/yr

The Role: The SAAM group is seeking an Associate Software Engineer to join high-performing teams ... Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python * BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Applied ...

5 Legal

IP Litigation Associate

Washington, DC

... associate to join their IP Litigation team. Qualified applicants will have: Top law school ... Undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechanical ...

Gromelski and Associates, Inc.

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Software Developer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

You should be a self-starter, quick-learner, and motivated SW engineer who can work in a fast-paced ... Associates, Oracle Corporation, Department of Education, ExecuTrain Corporation, Federal Computer ...

STR

Associate Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$93K - $115K/yr

The SAAM group is seeking an Associate Software Engineer to join high-performing teams transforming ... Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python * BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Applied ...

STR

Associate Software Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$93K - $115K/yr

The SAAM group is seeking an Associate Software Engineer to join high-performing teams transforming ... Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python * BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Applied ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

Design Engineer, Associate

Tysons, VA · On-site

Overview Design Engineer, Associate Essential responsibilities and activities include but are not ... Uses 2D CAD/BIM skills * Assist on the development of Method of Procedures (MOP), and Sequence of ...

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All JobsAssociate Computer Engineer JobsAssociate Computer Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA

Associate Computer Engineer information

See Ashburn, VA salary details

$42.4K

$84.5K

$135K

How much do associate computer engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate computer engineer in Ashburn, VA is $84,504.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $97,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Associate Computer Engineer vs Computer Technician?

AspectAssociate Computer EngineerComputer Technician
Required CredentialsAssociate's degree in Computer Engineering or related fieldHigh school diploma or equivalent; certifications like A+ are common
Work EnvironmentDesign, development, and testing of hardware/software; office and lab settingsHardware troubleshooting, repairs, and maintenance; repair shops and client sites
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, engineering firms, IT departmentsIT service providers, retail, and small businesses

Associate Computer Engineers focus on designing and developing computer systems, often requiring a degree in computer engineering. In contrast, Computer Technicians primarily troubleshoot and repair hardware and software issues. Both roles are essential in the tech industry but differ in responsibilities, education, and work environment.

How does an Associate Computer Engineer typically collaborate with senior engineers and cross-functional teams on projects?

As an Associate Computer Engineer, you will often work closely with senior engineers and professionals from other departments such as software development, quality assurance, and product management. Collaboration usually involves attending regular team meetings, participating in code reviews, and contributing to the design and implementation of technical solutions. This structure provides a supportive environment where you can learn from more experienced colleagues, receive constructive feedback, and gradually take on more complex tasks as your skills develop. Effective communication and a willingness to seek guidance are key to thriving in this collaborative setting.

What are Associate Computer Engineers?

Associate Computer Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining computer systems and software. They typically work under the supervision of senior engineers and are involved in troubleshooting, coding, and supporting IT projects. This role is ideal for recent graduates or those new to the field, offering opportunities to gain hands-on experience and advance to more senior engineering positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Computer Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Computer Engineer, you need a solid background in computer science fundamentals, programming languages (such as Python, Java, or C++), and a relevant bachelor's degree. Familiarity with software development tools, version control systems like Git, and possibly certifications such as CompTIA or Cisco can be advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork skills help you excel in collaborative and problem-solving environments. These competencies are crucial for delivering reliable technical solutions and contributing effectively to engineering projects.
What are the most commonly searched types of Computer Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA? The most popular types of Computer Engineer jobs in Ashburn, VA are:
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Associate Computer Engineer jobs near you
Associate AI Engineer - JobID-0025

Associate AI Engineer - JobID-0025

Innovative Defense Technologies

Arlington, VA

$74K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Description
About The Role:
Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), provider of cutting-edge cloud-based integration, automated testing and data analysis for complex, mission-critical systems in the US Department of Defense (DOD), is seeking an Associate AI Engineer to be part of our Warfare Systems team and based out of our Arlington, VA  or Mt. Laurel, NJ location.
 
The Associate AI Engineer will design and deliver engineering-focused AI solutions that move beyond demos into reliable, mission-relevant systems. This role is ideal for an early-career engineer who is strong in Python, excited by LLMs and autonomous agents, and motivated to build end-to-end capabilities including MCP integrations, RAG pipelines, tool-using agents, and production-grade AI workflows.
 
Clearance & Location Requirements:
  • All applicants must be able to obtain/maintain an active Secret U.S. Security Clearance.
  • This is an on-site position. Requiring at least 3 days in office, based out of our Arlington, VA or Mt. Laurel, NJ location.

Key Responsibilities
What You Will Do: 
  • Design and Build AI Solutions: Design and implement end-to-end agentic AI systems that support planning, reasoning, tool use, and multi-step execution in real-world environments. Build modular, testable components that move from prototype to operational capability.
  • Integrate Models and Tools: Develop integrations across LLMs, APIs, data sources, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) interfaces to enable intelligent agents to interact with external systems, retrieve context, and take action safely and reliably.
  • Develop Retrieval Pipelines: Build and optimize Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines that connect models to live knowledge sources, structured data, and enterprise content to improve factual grounding, contextual relevance, and response quality.
  • Engineer Conversational and Agentic Interfaces: Create conversational systems and intelligent agents with memory, contextual awareness, adaptive decision-making, and support for multi-turn user and system interactions.
  • Implement and Evaluate AI Workflows: Translate technical objectives into working pipelines, run experiments, evaluate agent behavior, and iterate on prompts, orchestration logic, retrieval quality, and system performance to improve reliability and usability.
  • Scope and Define Requirements: Gather, document, and validate technical and functional requirements from project artifacts, stakeholders, and mission needs to ensure feasibility, completeness, and alignment with operational goals.
  • Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with engineers, technical leads, and mission stakeholders to integrate AI capabilities into broader software and system architectures. Participate in technical reviews, design discussions, and delivery planning.
  • Support Technical Quality: Contribute to testing, debugging, and performance optimization of AI-enabled applications, including edge cases involving context management, retrieval failures, tool execution, and orchestration logic.
  • Learn and Apply Emerging Practices: Stay current on advances in LLMs, agent frameworks, orchestration methods, and applied AI engineering practices, and bring that knowledge into practical system design and implementation.
  • Communicate Technical Work: Clearly document architectures, workflows, assumptions, and implementation decisions so that solutions are maintainable, explainable, and transferable across teams.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
Who You Are (Required):
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related technical field, or equivalent full-time professional experience
  • 0–3 years of full-time professional experience in software engineering, machine learning engineering, AI engineering, or related technical roles
  • Ability to travel up to 10% of the time as needed
  • Proficiency in Python, including experience with core libraries such as NumPy and Pandas
  • Experience building software with one or more modern AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LangGraph, Semantic Kernel, or AutoGen
  • Familiarity with Large Language Models (LLMs), prompt engineering, agent orchestration, or conversational AI systems
  • Familiarity with retrieval systems, vector databases, embeddings, or RAG-based application design
  • Understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including version control, testing, debugging, and writing maintainable code
  • Ability to work independently on technical tasks while collaborating effectively in a team environment
  • Strong problem-solving skills, curiosity, and a builder mindset focused on turning ideas into working systems
What Makes You Stand Out:
  • Experience building agentic AI systems that use tools, memory, planning, or multi-step execution
  • Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations or similar model-to-tool integration patterns
  • Experience deploying AI services, APIs, or workflows in cloud or production environments
  • Experience with vector databases, retrieval infrastructure, knowledge graph integration, or enterprise search
  • Exposure to evaluation methods for LLMs and agents, including reasoning quality, hallucination reduction, tool-use reliability, and retrieval performance
  • Experience with Docker, REST APIs, Git-based development workflows, or CI/CD pipelines
  • Experience working on defense, government, or other mission-oriented technical programs
  • Strong interest in building practical AI systems that must operate reliably in complex, real-world environments
If you see yourself reflected in this role and are excited about the impact you could make, we encourage you to apply! If you know someone who may be a great fit, please feel free to share this opportunity with your network.

Pay Range*: $74,000 - $116,000 or $90,000 - $150,000
This amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience. 
*Pursuant to New Jersey Senate Bill 2310 IDT is required to disclose the “pay scale” or “pay range” associated with a job posting. Notably, however, this amount may not be reflective of actual compensation that may be earned as pay is dependent on a candidate’s experience, skills, and education. The posted range does not include bonuses, commissions, tips, or other benefits. Click here for additional information about Senate Bill 2310. IDT is often looking to place multiple candidates at various levels. Therefore, more than one pay range has been included, commensurate with experience.

Job Benefits
Why Work at Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT):
IDT is a growing company with a vibrant, entrepreneurial culture. We are headquartered in Arlington, VA with additional offices in Fall River, MA; Mount Laurel, NJ; and San Diego, CA. At each location, our employees work together in a modern, snack-filled, and social office space, designing innovative solutions for our defense industry customers. We offer employees competitive pay and benefits including:  
  • Generous benefits package 
  • Competitive PTO 
  • Paid holidays 
  • 401(k) with immediate vesting and matching 
  • 9/80 optional schedule (2nd and 4th Friday off every month)  
  • Tuition Assistance Reimbursement Program
  • Professional Development Resources 
  • Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits
  • Organization-Wide Monthly Tech Connect Events
  • Annual Employee Recognition Awards 
  • Regular Social Events and Catered Lunches 
 
EEO Statement:
IDT is an Equal Opportunity employer.